Primary: Kogi Gov Picks Auditor General as Anointed Candidate

By Nurat Uthman

Ahead of the All Progressives Congress governorship primary election in Kogi State, the deputy governor, Edward Onoja, and the Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello, Mohammed Asuku, have withdrawn from the race.

 This was announced at the stakeholders’ meeting of the party held on Thursday in Lokoja.

The meeting, held at the party’s secretariat, was hosted by the governor,  who unveiled his preferred candidate as the Auditor General of the state, Ahmed Ododo.

 Meanwhile, Onoja and Asuku announced their withdrawal from the governorship primary via their respective verified Facebook pages shortly after the meeting in Lokoja.

Onoja, whom many had thought would naturally succeed Bello before now, wrote on his Facebook: “To God be the glory for life and divine health. My appreciation to my leader, HE Alhaji Yahaya Bello, and all my supporters for your love and prayers. Let love, patience and perseverance lead. I am forever grateful".

On his part, the governor’s Chief of Staff, Asuku, who was also seen as a frontrunner because of his closeness to the governor, posted: “Alhamdulillah! Alhamdulillah !!Alhamdulillah !!!

“All praises and adoration are due to the most high God, the greater of the entire universe and the sustainer of same who has safeguarded my life and that of my immediate family and well-wishers to witness this moment in my life. I sincerely appreciate His Excellency, my benefactor, for all that Allah has been using him to do in my life. As such, I hereby submit myself publicly to the decision taken today and I will forever live to remain loyal and dedicated to the decision of my party as I enjoin all my well-wishers to work with us for our great party APC to become victorious in the November 11 governorship election.”

In a similar development, other aspirants like Mr David Jimoh; a former Commissioner for Finance, Asiwaju Ashiru Idris; Okala Yakubu, and Momoh Jubril, also withdrew from the governorship race.

 However, the chairman of the primary election committee and Zamfara State Governor, Mohammed  Matawale, said all other aspirants who had not withdrawn from the race were free to participate in Friday primary to be held across the state.